HCC student accused of threatening teacher, classmates held in jail

By Brian Rogers |
April 22, 2013
| Updated: April 22, 2013 9:50pm

A 32-year-old Fresno man remains in jail without bail, accused of threatening to kill an instructor and classmates at the main campus of Houston Community College last week.

Cory J. Brown was arrested by HCC police officers about 30 minutes after allegedly threatening a classroom full of people about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Daniel Arguijo, chief communications officer at HCC, said Brown ran out of the classroom after an outburst in which he said he was going to return and kill everyone.

The instructor notified authorities who arrested Brown off-campus.

Brown, who has previously been convicted of attempted theft, possession of drugs and being a felon in possession of a firearm, did not have any weapons when he was arrested.

Arguijo said the incident prompted the college to automatically withdraw Brown from classes.

"If something is expressed, even in a joking manner, we take it very seriously," Arguijo said. "We'd rather be overly cautious than take a risk that any student, faculty or staff be put in harm's way."

HCC is made up more than 75,000 students enrolled in more than 42 campuses.

If convicted of terroristic threat, a third-degree felony, Brown faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.